Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-04-02
CAPTAIN BRACES STORY.

brothers were never heard of after their
| last VOYAGE: and so long a time had gone
| by since nv brother Elias sailed from
| New York for Bombay without any It'd
| ings coming back from him that had be-
| gun to fear that he, too, was to be quoted
| as another example of tie luck OF the
Braces.
| In those davs | was the master of one of
| the fastest clippers that rounded the Horn.
We had not heard of Pacific railways then;
steam on the ocean was not what it is now,
and our swift ships made voyages between
Boston and San Francisco that astonished
and delighted both cities The discovery
| of gold in California was followed by
great emigration thither. and all the carry
| ing trade was stimulated. Ny ship had
made an average speed on several of these
long voyages of which the owners were
| proud, and | was naturally anxious to
beat my own time.
| We were bowling along merrily in the
South Atlantic before stiff north wind
| when the masthead lookout reported some
thing in sight far off to the larboard.
| Was it a sail?" asked. No; it was not
a sail, and it was not clear what it was.
Soon after came another report that it
| looked like dismantled hull.
"Any signals?" inquired.
No. sir; no signals"
| Mr.. MAYHEM. the mate, who was stand
ing near me. made the remark lin a very
proper manner, too. that if the masts were
| all gone, it couldn't be expected there
would be any signals | am ashamed to
say that told him to mind his own bust
ness.
The truth is, | was very much veXed. So
| far, We had made splendid run. and was
| hopeful of rounding the cape i'll less time
| than had ever done it before. And now
| to change course, lose Roadway, and per-
haps a whole day, looking after a wreck!
| 1t was too provoking.
For fifteen minutes l walked the deck,
very much vexed. but not at all satisfied
with myself. Then Mr.. Mayhem ap-
"I beg your pardon, Captain Brace" he
said, "bnt the class shows her plainly now.
She's a large Shin. not under helm, and
rolling, heavily rs if water lopoed. Shall
chance onr conrse and send a Loaf out?n
NO" thundered. and as the hurt and
astonished mate went forward. dived down
into the cabin and shut the door,
Let the old wreck 90. [ said to myself.
| "She's seen heavy weather. and there's
nothing alive on her"
This is what said: but saving it did not
satisfy me. | sat down and tried to think
of something else. | could not do it.
Thoughts of the dead and the diving sea-
men who might be on that poor drifting
hul5 took possession of nv mind an
would not quit me. Then came another
Thought that caused me to lump M and
pace lie cabin. What if nv brothers had
met their death in this way. because some
selfish. inhumon ship's contoin like myself
was unwilling to stop and save them. Just
such tbinps had hammered.
T rushed m on deck. "What do Won
make her now. Mr.. Mayhew?" | asked.
She's lurchinp and settling fast, sir" he
said THE rail and the matches have been
chopped away. and I see one boat that is
stove. She had live men aboard not long
400. sure"
"Wel. Mr.. Mavhew, YOU NAV shorten
sail and send a boat over to her"
' - =" -, 80 r,a' ~. - ea,,.
through the glass our boats crew mount the
side of the water-logged wreck. With a
pang of roproach | saw them hand down
into the boat half dozen helpless men:
Ihey We're luSt IN tme--the boat mad not
Paiie" Il lufio3S away Mheh tne EtecA
,'' i;,,l, oftor 9r o.
herors tbc w;nI .a1;n that I Went down
into the fore hold where the doctor was
working over the poor. starved tamished
fellows who We're taken from the wreck. l
had been sailor twenty years, and never
saw so p'ttul sl9ht before.
I'm any OF mem ilVei I ASKED
. iIG Sio I n'S ,1 i;o1'' "oup o NY ~
hoard and tba opb@rs orn Iikaiv to"ay cent